Played In/Out: For TCU and UCLA, every other game counts

USA TODAY Sports is keeping careful tabs on how each week's wins and losses impact the eventual makeup of the inaugural College Football Playoff. If the season ended today, here are teams moving into the championship picture and teams moving out.

Teams that played their way in :

TCU. For the Horned Frogs, Minnesota is the gift that keeps on giving. The Golden Gophers have won six of eight since losing to TCU in September — one of the two losses came by a touchdown to Ohio State — and now stand within a win against Wisconsin of taking home the Big Ten West Division. It's been said before, but when push comes to shove between TCU and Baylor, this is the Frogs' biggest advantage: Each will play the same league schedule, but TCU will have that Minnesota win in its back pocket.

UCLA. Thanks to a schedule loaded with bowl teams and top 25 competition, UCLA stands at the front of the line among two-loss teams in the Playoff hunt. If that seems like a dull compliment, consider all the Bruins need to make the top four: Mississippi State losing to Mississippi, Ohio State losing its conference title game and one of TCU and Baylor stumbling to the finish line. By the way, a two-loss season for the Bruins would include wins against Memphis, Texas, Arizona State, Arizona, USC, Stanford and Oregon.

Teams that played their way out :

Mississippi. The official end came at the hands of Arkansas, which has officially turned the corner in the past month of Bret Bielema's second season with the program. Once a Playoff fixture, the Rebels have lost three of four, sandwiching a win against Presbyterian with three defeats against conference competition. So long, Playoff. But can Mississippi rally in time to take rival Mississippi State out of the mix in this week's Egg Bowl? Ruining the Bulldogs' chances is all that's left for the Rebels and Hugh Freeze.